Automatic load releasing coupling or clutch for parachutes and the like



May 20, 1947 w. A. HEIDMAN ETAL 2,420,746

AUTOMATIC LOAD RELEASING COUPLING OR CLUTCH FOR PARACHUTES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 28, 1945 M9/MM in Fig. 3 the clutch elements IB may be moved inwardly to disengaged position thereby disengaging the clutch members and allowing separation thereof.

The bolt detent I5 projects through the slot I3 and is provided with a finger piece I8 at its outer end.

The control member has a transverse bore I9 in its head portion, the bolt being arranged longitudinally through this bore and being provided with a thrust member 20 engaged by the coiled spring 2| arranged within the bore and supported at its outer end by the plug 22 in the outer end of the bore. The spring acts to urge the detent toward engaging position so that when the control member I 'l is in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 3, the detent automatically engages in the keeper opening I4.

The control member is yieldably urged or biased to clutch engaging position by means of the coiled spring 23 arranged between the head of the control member and the shoulder provided by the end of the clutch member -that is, the clutch portion thereof. This spring is of suicient strength or tension as to yieldingly support the clutch members in their engaged posi-V tion.

The control member is provided with an eye 24 to Which the parachute is attached so that the sustaining pull or stress of the parachute in counteracting the weight or load on the clutch member ,3 is on the control member.

In connecting the parachute to the load, the load is connected to the eye 6, as stated, the inner clutch member inserted, then the outer clutch member and the detent disengaged from the keeper, allowing the spring 23 to actuate the control member to clutch engaging position as shown in Fig. 2. The parachute being attached to the eye 24 results in the stress or load on the coupling acting to urge the clutch parts into engaging position. However, when the load strikes the ground the outer clutch member will strike the load or the ground depending on the connection and the impact thus resulting will force the control member axially against the tension of the spring v23 thereby releasing the clutch members. While the spring 23 is designed to maintain the clutch parts in engaged position the mass or weight of the control element is such that with an impact, such as would result from the arresting of the downward or falling movement of the coupling, overcomes the biasing spring and relationship of the clutch.

With the parts thus arranged there is no possibility of the clutch parts becoming prematurely disengaged as gravity cannot bring the clutch or coupling element into engagement with the load with such force as to result in releasing the clutch and while the sustaining stress of the parachute may be very greatly varied as a result of air currents, air pockets, and the like, the coupling clutch remains engaged until the load has contacted the ground when it is quickly released.

The parts may be repeatedly used if desired. However, the main aim is to provide a load releasing clutoh coupling in which the parts may be easily engaged and attached to the load and the parachute or other sustaining object and one which is positive in its relation when the load contacts the ground, at the same time is not likely to release under other conditions.

We haveillustrated and described an embodiment of our invention which We consider` as being highly practical both from the manufacturing and use standpoints. We have not however attempted to illustrate or describe certain modications and adaptations which we contem plate as we believe the disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what lwe claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic load releasing clutch for parachutes and the like comprising an outer annular clutch member having an internal cylindrical recess and provided with an eye facilitating attachment to a load, an inner annular clutch member loosely received within said outer clutch member and having a plurality of peripherally spaced outwardly tapered sockets, said outer clutch member having a seat for said inner clutch member, said inner clutch member having a cylindrical casing portion provided with a longitudinal slot and with a keeper diametrically opposite said slot, clutch balls arranged in said sockets, the diameter of the outer ends of said sockets being such as to permit the balls to project therethrough into clutching engagement with the outer clutch member while retaining the balls, a conical clutch member coacting with said balls and adapted when in its outer position to hold the balls in clutching engagement with the outer clutch member and permitting their disengagement When in its inner position, said control member being provided with a head slidable within said casing and provided with an eye facilitating attachment to a parachute or the like so that the resistance to the load is on the control member, a spring biased detent bolt slidably mounted in said head transversely thereof to project through said slot in said casing and adapted to automatically engage said keeper when the control member is in clutch releasing position, and a coiled spring arranged within said casing to bias said control member to clutch engaging position, the tension of the spring being suflicient to normally support the weight of the control member and hold it in clutch engaging position, the weight of the control member being such as to overcome the spring when the clutch is subjected to a substantial axial impact thereby releasing the clutch.

2. An automatic load releasing clutch for parachutes and the like comprising an outer annular clutch member having an internal cylindrical recess and provided with an eye facilitating attachment to a load, an inner annular clutch member loosely received within said outer clutch member and having a plurality of peripherally spaced outwardly tapered sockets, said outer clutch member having a seat for said inner clutch member, said inner clutch member having a cylindrical casing portion provided with a keeper, clutch balls arranged in said sockets, the diameter of the outer ends of said sockets being such as to permit the balls to project therethrough into clutching engagement with the outer clutch member while retaining the balls, a conical clutch member coacting with said balls and adapted when in its outer position to hold the balls -in clutching engagement with the outer clutch member and permitting their disengagement when in its inner position, said control member being slidable within said casing and provided with an eye facilitating attachment to a parachute or the like so that the resistance to the load is on the control member, and a coiled spring arranged :concerne ;l-beifrhaning at casing: .portionprovidedtwithna ilonargitndinal i slot and' iwitlr.: ai keep erfzdiametrieally cnppositessaid slot clutch?k elem-entsarrangedin wersaid:A sockets, lthezdiamet'er: ofnthe outer-ends'- '0f Brsaidf-isocketsn being. -such: as f :tozpermit: the clutch .reiements :tot proj ectf therethrough :into clutching t s ierrgagementfwithithe outer clutch memb'enwvhile xpreienting; theiri passingtherethrougm at tap ered contrb1: .member rvenacting with; said clutch 1 ele- -ments` and adapted` whenlin its ractuatedfipositicn .tonhold `the clutch elements fin. clutching engageement and.' :permitting .their disengagement lwhen i in 1its ."retracted 1` zpositi'cnfi said control'd member being provided'\with1 afhead :and means fac"illitati ning :its -`attachment Lito a i pa-rachutei for L vthe olike aso-4 thatvloadf .resi-stanceiisf imparted to `theuconi trol; .member;.` arspringrlbiasedidetentlbolt'lslidably Imounted in rsaid ,r control: .transversely -therecif4 to tproject through' said :'l slotin said .fcasingsand adapted `to #automatically engage said keeper fuzh'en` tithe: coni-,rolf mem-befr isin' clutch releasing positionyand .zazisprin g :arranged iwithinfsaidicas- -ning to :bias said` controlzmemberz to 4clutch'engaging position, thessprin'gibeing of sufficient 'strength to normally 'retainiithe controlmember in clutch engaging position, the weight of the control member being such as to overcome the spring when the clutch isvs'ubjected-to-asubstantial axial impactthereby releasing-the clutch.

4. vAn automatic load releasingclutchl for vparachutes and the like comprising an outer clutch member'wadapted 'for i attachment* to a load, an inner :clutch member received Within saidfouter clutch member and havingff-apluralitycoftioiit- Wardly tapered sockets, clutchel'ements arranged in:V said` sockets, the diametercfthe outerendsfl'so ofi-` said sockets being such -as fto :permit the'- clutch elements to project therethrough into clutching engagement with the outer clutch member While preventing their passing therethrough, a tapered control member coacting with said clutch elements and adapted when in its actuated position to hold the clutch elements in clutching engagement and permitting their disengagement when in its retracted position, said control member being provided With means facilitating its attachment to a parachute or the like so that load resistance is imparted to the control member, and a spring arranged within said casing to bias said control member to clutch engaging position, the spring being of sufcient strength to normally retain the control member in clutch engaging position, the Weight of the control member being such as to overcome the spring when the clutch is subjected to a substantial axial impact thereby releasing the clutch.

5. An automatic load releasing clutch for parachutes and the like comprising an outer clutch member adapted for attachment to a load, an inner clutch member received within said outer clutch member, clutch elements carried by said einnerclutch:driember fto coact-fwith1-sa'id .outer islutcrmnember; atcontrolfmemben"coasting fwith v'said-Iclutch Jelementsand adaptedl Whenin' 1 its ac- ;Stuatedizposition :toi hold'fthe. :clutch :elements `-in 5 'frclutching yLengagement 'with l the #outer f: :clutch :lmember and `:l-pernriitting theiri disengagement @when irc-itsiretractedlpositionysaid controlimemibier ibei-ng lprccidediwithfmeans -fa'cilitating `its eattachmenttor a a `parachute Tori the; like; lsoith'at 510 load resistance is imparted to the controlmember,

2a springlfbiasededetent; adaptedxtoautomatically `@.engage: whennthe controlr'm'ember .isin clutch ."l'eleasing '.positiongi and.; ai spring?V arrangedwithin .ffsaidl` Sinner*f'clutclfrfmerrrlcier'v tof bias v'Isaidfficontrol :.In'ember to: 'clutchzz engaging vpo's'iti'on, the tension -zoflthe springibeingf su'fcientito: normally retain #it in: blutchfengaging position', the contrblimember:beinglof"sucliimassiastoiovercume thefspring 'animan theftclutch :is'esubjectedl to' 'a 'substantial -raXialimpactlthereby:freleasing the clutch.

".6.aAn's-eautcmatic.fl'oad releasing 'clutch'j of-.'the V'iti/Spe described :comprising 1; a :clutchiimem'ber adaptedsfori attachment ito ya .load,'va' 'coacting clutch membsrfprovi'ded with 4a' fmovable'` clutch .elementen'gageable with 1said"rst mentioned i l clutchimember; a nYcontrolfmember: operatively `asfsociated: Withsaidseccnd mentioned clutch' -mem 4bertand:fhaving: aetapered portion fcoactingwith i said-i clutch "elements f or `urging. them :into clutch .30- engagement `with fisaid ffi-irst 1 mentioned clutch :member ian-d:permittingr4 theirr disengagement on theiretracting movements ofthe control member,

l :saidcontrol': member :being-:adapted :for rattachmentf Ito# a; parachutefor the :lilseeso' that the -load 1351 resistance-,'of-=the parachute'Y iseimpartedtof-:the f controlemeznberfand a; springaarranged to .bias said control mem-ber; to clutcnengaging position, v theftension lof thefspring 'beingsufiicientf-tornor- :ma-ily ,resist thefweighto the control'member and yretain l -`it in -z clutching i rengaging position, the Weight of the control rnembenfb'ei-ngsuchr as"y to vovercome -thespring when theclutchfis subjected toca-.substantial i impact-axially- -of "thei l'cont'rol #memberithereby releasing: the clutch.

7; `Anaautomaticiloadwreleasing: couplingr'of the type .described rcompnising ma clutch fimember .radapted f lfor @attachment 2 ito 1a fload; `.a 'coaoting f clutchzlniember- 'provided With fa relutch-ieleme'nt ffengageable with e said f rst 1 mentioned 1 clutch :mem-ber, f a control @member 'operatively :associrated with 'sai-df'second mentioned clutch' ,Lmember in operative relation to its said clutch element, said control member being adapted for attachment to a parachute or the like so that the load resistance of the parachute is imparted to the control member, a spring arranged to bias said control member to clutch engaging position, said control member being arranged to be actuated to releasing position When it is subjected to a substantial impact thereby releasing the clutch, and a manually releasable detent adapted to automatically retain the control member in its clutch releasing position.

8. An automatic load releasing coupling of the type described comprising a clutch member adapted for attachment to a load, a coacting clutch member provided with a clutch element engageable with said rst mentioned clutch member, a control member operatively associated with said second mentioned clutch member in operative relation to its said clutch element, said control member being adapted for attachment to a parachute or the like so that the load resistance of the parachute is imparted t0 the control member, and a spring arranged to bias said control member in a direction away from Vthe load supported by the rst mentioned clutch member to clutch engaging position to engage the clutch element With the first mentioned clutch member, said control member being arranged to be actuated against the action of said spring and towards the load supported on the first mentioned clutch member to releasing position when it is subjected to a substantial impact thereby releasing the clutch.

9. An automatic load releasing coupling of the class described comprising coacting separable clutch members one of which is adapted for attachment to a load and the other adapted to transmit the pull of the load from the first clutch member towards a parachute or the like, a clutch control member operatively associated with one of said clutch members and provided with a yielding means acting to bias it to clutch engaging position, and a trol member in clutch releasing position against the tension of its said biasing means, said clutch control member being adapted to be actuated to clutch releasing position by impact.

10. An automatic load releasing coupling of the class described comprising eoaeting separable clutch members one of which is adapted for attachment to a load and the other adapted to transmit the pull of the load from the rst clutch member towards a vparachute or the like, a clutch control member operatively associated with one of said clutch members and provided with a yielding means acting to bias it to clutch engaging position, and a detent for holding said control member in clutch releasing position against the tension of its said biasing means, said clutch control member biasing means being adapted to yield to the inertia of said control member when the coupling is subjected to an impact such as that resulting from the falling coupling striking the load or ground.

1l. An automatic load releasing coupling of the class described comprising coacting separable clutch members one of which is provided with a rollingly mounted clutch element releasably engageable with the other, and a wedge-shaped control member for wedgingly engaging said rollingly mounted clutch element and adapted when in actuated position to release the clutch element and thereby disengage the clutch, such control member constituting a load supporting coupling detent for holding said eon- .d

element between the load and its sustaining means and being actuated to disengaged position by the release of the load sustaining stress and the impact resulting from arresting of the falling movement of the coupling.

12. An automatic load releasing coupling of the class described comprising rst and second coacting clutch members, a clutch control member carried by the rst clutch member and provided with yielding means for acting to bias the control member to clutch engaging position, said clutch control member and the second clutch member being provided with means for connection to a load or load sustaining means, and an automatically engageable detent for holding said clutch control member in clutch disengaging position against the stress of its said biasing means, said biasing means being adapted to yield to the inertia of said control member when the coupling is subjected to impacts such as that resulting from the release of the load sustaining stress on the control member and the impact of the coupling against a load or the ground.

13. An automatic load releasing coupling of the class described comprising rst and second coacting clutch members, and a clutch control member carried by the rst clutch member and provided with yielding means for acting to bias the control member to clutch engaging position, said clutch control member and the second clutch member being provided with means for connection to a load or load sustaining means, said biasing means being adapted to yield to the inertia of said control member when the coupling is subjected to impacts such as that resulting from the release of the load sustaining stress on the control member and the impact of the coupling against a load or the ground.

WILLIAM A. HEIDMAN, WILLIAM A. I-IEIDMAN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,618,851 Thunberg Feb. 22, 1927 2,057,699 Williams Oct. 20, 1936 2,328,914 Kubat Sept. 7, 1943 2,368,671 Lombard Feb. 6, 1945 

